Ministry to the Deaf

 

The Rev. H.W. Syle

 

Today the Episcopal Church honors the life and ministry of 2 missionaries, missionaries to the deaf, Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle. 

 

Thomas Gallaudet was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1822. His mother, Sophia was deaf, and his father, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, was the co-founder of the first institution for the education of the deaf in North America, and was its first principal. The school was known as the "Connecticut Asylum (at Hartford) for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons," but it is now known as the American School for the Deaf.  Although his father wanted to become an Episcopal priest, he did not; rather, dedicating his life to the education of the deaf.  Thomas did become an Episcopal priest being ordained in 1851.  In 1852, he established St. Ann’s Church in New York City which ministered to deaf persons by having services in sign language. Gallaudet died on this day in 1902.

 

Henry Winter Syle was born on 9 November 1846 in Shanghai, China, and was deaf from childhood.  When he moved to the U.S., he was one of Fr. Thomas Gallaudet’s parishioners. Syle attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, St. John's College in Cambridge, England, and Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Fr. Gallaudet encouraged Syle to become a priest. On 14 October 1884, Syle became the first deaf person to be ordained by the Episcopal Church in the United States. He established a congregation for the deaf in 1888 and died on 6 January 1890.

 

Let us pray:  O loving God, whose will it is that everyone should come to you and be saved: We bless your Holy Name for your servants Thomas Gallaudet and Henry Winter Syle, whose labors with and for those who are deaf we commemorate today; and we pray that you will continually move your Church to respond in love to the needs of all people; through Jesus Christ, who opened the ears of the deaf, and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

CALENDAR REMINDERS

 

Adult Christian Education every Sunday at 11:00 a.m.: Contemporary Moral Issues.

  

Sunday, 8 September we will: (1) begin Sunday School for the children, and (2) bless all of those participating in EFM which is being facilitated by Tammie Taylor.

 

Sunday, 15 September 2013: Invite Someone to Church Sunday.  The Anglican Communion will be doing this all over the world.  Be a part of it!

  

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List especially Jim Reagan and all of those who are starting college and will be away from home for the first time.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550